Ice Hot 6/?
Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 12:53 pm
GG: The response to this fic has been mind-blowing. Thanks for liking it so much, everyone! Keep up with the reviews!
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Gundam Wing.
~ Ice Hot ~ Chapter Six
By Gundam Girl
~ Diminishing Defenses ~
Relena was pleased that she didn?t so much as hear Heero Yuy?s name for a whole seven days. It would have only annoyed, and worse, upset her. And she had no time to be upset. Between the situation with the Colonies and the steady flow of threats from some unknown terrorists that had yet to act, Relena was swamped with work. The only problem with not being in contact with Yuy was that there was a delay on details she needed to get actual repairs started. The sooner the contractors went to work, the sooner she could hand the matter over to Quatre and let him deal with it.
She returned from a meeting with the ambassadors from the former Africa and retreated to her home office, ready for a ?relaxing? night of rock music used to keep her awake and paperwork. The meeting had gone well at least. Perhaps tonight she?d be able to take a quick shower and slip into a hot, rose-scented bath. She had the freaking Jacuzzi she hadn?t used in three years. Relena opened her e-mail.
Or not. There were two messages from Heero Yuy, both with sizeable attachments.
The first one she brought up was a list Quatre had given him and a report of poor plumbing. He also stated that he had contacted the desired companies already and discussed matters concerning salary, which mean she wouldn?t have to, this relieving a generous bit of business. In the past, she might have appreciated the gesture. Tonight, she only rolled her eyes.
She nearly did an impression of him and snorted at the signature of Heero Yuy, L1 Representative at the bottom of the message. She opened the second e-mail.
She was shocked by the burst of color from the scanned invitation he?d sent her.
?Dear Madam President Relena Darlian,? she read off with a bit of surprise, even to her own ears, ?you are hereby invited to a dinner party for the Colonial leaders presented by Laura Trieste, Representative of the L2 Colony sector at Duet on Third Avenue in Colony L2-0011??
She knew of Laura Trieste, naturally. She was a blatant woman who enjoyed extravagance and saw the romantic side to life rather than the mechanical side. She was, in some choice words, Relena?s polar opposite. She knew, also, of Duet. It was a restaurant no older than three years, very mature, very expensive, and very suggestive. Oh, there was nothing indecent about the place at all, so she?d heard. But Duo and Hilde had gone there for their second marriage anniversary the year it opened, and Hilde had written her and described the sensual atmosphere of the place. That had been when she and Hilde had stayed in touch.
And Heero Yuy was inviting her there to eat and, dear God, to dance. She was sure of it. Relena found the ?When? line on the card and blanched. It was tomorrow evening.
Could she just say no? Surely she could. Couldn?t she? She?d turned down dozens of men in the past six years, aristocrats and politicians among them. Heero Yuy was a politician now?
But, she thought was a bit of alarm, he was also Heero Yuy. Her protector.
Former protector, she reminded herself stoically. His feats had been done long ago.
She scrolled down to the end of the message with intent to scoff at his title again, but she only read a simple two lines:
Come, Relena.
Heero.
Her heart banged against her chest like a gavel, deciding her fate. He had put it so simply.
And she could still remember the things he?d done for her. Wing Gundam?s shield over her body, defending her from the collapsing building; Heero covering her body with his own, rescuing her from falling debris and taking a cut himself?
His body, even at fifteen, had set her temperature to warm. And the touch of his hand last week?
Relena wrapped her arms around her waist and shivered. God, why was he affecting her this way? It had been six years, their ?intimacy? was over and done with, she had gotten over it, over him?
Right? Remembering the way he?d kissed her, even without experience, left her horrifically aroused.
She promptly shut down the computer and stood up, heading for her bathroom, stripping from her suit jacket as she went.
She really needed that hot bath.
Relena sighed once she was inside the tiled room and the door was locked. Turning on the fan, she quickly divested herself of all material, tossing her clothes in a hamper by the wide shower stall.
She let the faucet in the Jacuzzi run and added bath salts before she hopped into the stall.
As she turned on the steaming stream and let it wet her hair, she wondered. Lathering shampoo into her hair, she wondered if not going to the Colonial dinner could negatively influence her career in any way. She didn?t really think so. There was business on Earth that might pop up if she wanted it to, and she could decline the offer for the party. However, if she did go, it would make the Colony representatives happy. She could talk to Quatre, find out why in God?s name he had asked Fogner to let Yuy take over L1.
And, she reasoned, since she would be with him, she could convince herself that once and for all, she no longer was attached to Heero Yuy in any way. They could even make a business meeting out of it. She could find out exactly how many apartments were as faulty as his.
Relena quickly rinsed her hair of the conditioner she?d added to the shampoo and hurriedly turned off the faucet in the Jacuzzi. Dipping into it, she let her head rest against the rubber pillow suctioned to the tub. The massaging jets combined with the luring scent of roses did little to keep her in the mind frame that she could easily reject Zero?s former pilot.
Absently, she wondered if Yuy would feel at all seduced if he smelled roses on her.
She doubted it, and the near-romantic mood she?d been in dissipated completely. Relena forced herself to focus on the tension that was slowly being eased from her back thanks to those jets.
Stepping from the tub twenty minutes later, she toweled herself dry with soft cotton and wrapped herself in an ankle-length satin robe from the former China?s council leader. Her damp hair fell into water-darkened gold ringlets around her shoulders.
When she walked out of the steamy bathroom on a quest for a nightgown or pajamas, she was surprised when she saw Trowa sitting on her couch.
Trowa only saw her reflexively cover her breasts, which the satin clung to. She was quite indecent, and he didn?t particularly care. Well, he did care. She was a gorgeous woman in a few yards of satin. And she was wet.
He crossed his legs to hide an obnoxious, untimely hard-on.
?What are you doing in here?? she asked. Was he checking in before the shift change? It couldn?t be eleven yet, Relena was certain it was only around nine. ?Trowa??
She was so cold, Trowa almost thought he saw steam from the traces of hot water rising from her. ?Yuy called.?
?Yuy ? he what?? she asked, still concerned with her decency or lack thereof.
Trowa repeated, ?Yuy called. My cell, in fact. I suppose he thought you weren?t at home.?
He had a talent for frazzling her even indirectly. Damn him! ?I see,? Relena replied. ?And? What did he say??
Trowa waited a moment, or so Relena thought, for her to gain her bearing. In reality, he was hesitating. ?He says he?ll see you tomorrow night.?
Relena grew furious almost instantly. He was playing a game of wills, was he? Jesus Christ, if the challenge were to see who was stronger in the emotions, she would win hands down. He had no idea what she?d been through.
Leaving was a strong card to play, she decided. But she got the feeling that showing up and staying at it would be even stronger.
With a bit of determination, Relena raised her nose and nodded curtly. ?Would you relay a message to him for me??
?What will you have me say, Madam President?? he asked loyally.
?Just one thing.? So pleased with her advantage in the annoying war, Relena almost smiled.
Almost.
?He can bet he?ll see me tomorrow night.?
***
Laura Alyssa LeDuc Peterson Trieste, a one-time widow on her third marriage, was very fond of the elegant. She had always believed space to be elegant, picturesque, even. All those stars were absolutely breathtaking; much more so than in the former France where she?d been born and had married for the fist time. By the time she had married ancient Roger Peterson, she?d been nominated for representative. And she?d found a love for the Colonies, especially at night when the streets sang ballads and entranced lovers.
Duet offered it all; elegant d?cor, a view of space in its glory, and soft music. It was the perfect location for her dinner. She was especially fond of the certain libido-summoning air of the place. Her current spouse, Raphael Trieste, was seventy-eight years old ? ages more than her forty. Laura sighed. If the shriveled old prick didn?t have so much money, she?d have never given him a first glance. As it was, he was the reason she wore the classy diamond-and-emerald necklace that dipped between her nearly too-exposed, fake cleavage.
Hopefully, the fool would die off soon, she thought as she gazed around at the invited guests milling about with champagne and cheerful tittering. She was running out of excuses for not getting into bed with him.
She stopped sighing immediately when two handsome, familiar men walked into the restaurant, one of them with a saucy redhead in black taffeta on his arm. She recognized them instantly, of course. Quatre Winner was no other than the leader of the Colonies. The woman was Rosanna Palatolia, a rising designer and engineer from L6 something or other. The lean, dark one was Heero Yuy, new and, as the rumor said, temporary L1 representative. He had no date with him, though for the life of her, Laura couldn?t imagine why. He was the most attractive man she?d seen in a while, and the way he smiled a little as he spoke to Winner was irresistibly alluring.
Laura had a sudden, delicious picture of her full signature ending with a ?Yuy.? With a grin, she made her way over to the two ex-Gundam pilots.
?Representative Winner, Miss Palatolia!? she exclaimed grandly. Quatre looked up and grinned at her.
?Representative Trieste,? he said charmingly, taking her hand and kissing the gloved back of it. He straightened and gazed around the room. ?I must say, this is quite the glorious setup you?ve prepared for us.?
?Thank you, sir. I do hope you and your beautiful date have fun tonight.?
Rosanna gave her a bright smile, one that had probably fallen many boys in high school. ?I expect we will. Will you be terribly busy tonight??
?I?ll make the rounds, of course,? Laura told her comfortably. ?But I should be able to relax with you all soon.?
?Good,? Quatre said. ?Do enjoy yourself, will you?? Quatre worked to keep his smile in place. He shot a glance to Heero. Laura would enjoy herself, all right. And everyone else. He led Rosanna away.
?Representative Yuy,? Laura continued, turning to Heero and giving him her most provocative expression. With practice, she had perfected it; head tilted in, amused eyes looking up beneath lashes, and lips just barely spread. ?I dare tell you that when I heard a Heero Yuy was representing L1, I thought we had a historical ghost among us.? She laughed lightly. ?But I?m sure you get that a lot.?
?Dozens of times,? Heero lied. Right off the bat, from her the tone of her voice ? and the few-hundred-dollar bosoms she unattractively flaunted ? he was certain he did not like L2 Representative Laura Trieste. But he was fairly sure she liked him. Looking to follow behavior code, he kissed her hand as Quatre had done.
?Are you here tonight alone?? Laura asked, hoping desperately he was.
Heero allowed himself a genuine grin; thinking of Relena?s challenging message she?d relayed through a very pissed-off Trowa amused him every minute of the day. ?For the moment. Due to colliding schedules, my date and I made arrangements to meet here.?
?I see. And who is this woman??
?Ah.? The edges of Heero?s eyes crinkled as he shoved away laughter. ?That will be a surprise, Representative.?
?Laura,? she insisted and batted her lashes flirtatiously. ?And Heero, yes??
Heero?s smile faltered, but not noticeably. What could it hurt? ?Why not?? he said, forcing his tone to sound jovial.
?How about some champagne while you wait??
But the champagne or the waiting wasn?t necessary. She held a power over all that she led. Though announcements weren?t being made at this function, heads turned when Relena entered the room.
Laura gasped. Heero felt a little anxious himself. Before his too-kind hostess could utter a sound, he quickly left her side to walk up the staircase to the restaurant?s main entrance just as the Maitre d` was taking the hooded black cloak from her shoulders.
He made it halfway up to her before he had to freeze to stare.
The cloak had done its job and had kept everything hidden until the last moment. She stood straight and tall, shoulders back, and was the very image of royalty and high society in soft silk of blue. It was darker than the sky color she?d worn to L1. Now it was more mature. Like sapphires, or like?his own eyes. The style of the dress complimented her every curve, from the way it clung tightly to the slopes of her shoulders at the top and around her breasts to how it billowed just slightly at her waist. There was a smatter of light-colored sparkles all over the material, as though it had been sprayed on. She wore sparkles on her bare shoulders and neck, which didn?t bear jewelry as Laura?s necklace. She wore a choker with a round medium sapphire, and it accentuated the slimness of her throat. Her hair? Jesus, her hair. It was more wavy than curly, but some groups of strands twirled into ringlets. Because it had been more tightly curled or partly up when he?d seen her, Heero hadn?t noticed how long it had gotten. It flowed halfway down her back.
He suddenly wished he could put his fingers in it.
And then he noticed that, as though she had cast a strange spell over them all, the room had gone quiet. And that Relena was staring at him with her crystal-like eyes.
?Representative Yuy,? she murmured in greeting. The sounds of merrymaking resumed. Because it was customary at this type of event, Relena held out her hand, palm down.
Heero grasped her ringless fingers, but only held them and her gaze for a moment. ?I?m glad you made it,? he told her lightly before lowering his head to brush his lips against her bare hand. He held back the reaction to the shock that spread through him. ?Madam President.? Before she could make any sharp reply, he tucked her arm through his and led her the rest of the way down the stairs before one of them tripped. And he would likely be the one to.
?Madam President!? came Laura?s voice. She appeared before them, looking very much bewildered. ?I had no idea you would be attending. When Mr. Yuy said his date was to be a surprise, I never suspected it would be our lady president!?
Part of Relena wanted to pinch the hand that covered hers in Heero?s arm. ?It?s a pleasure for me to be here,? she said with well-formed politeness. Running on automatic, she added, ?It?s really quite nice of you to give this party.?
Laura regarded the higher politician with a bit of venom in her tone. ?Is it? I just deemed it necessary for the Colony representatives to be shown some great appreciation. Paparazzi usually want to see Earth office-holders, you know.?
If women were wolves, Heero thought absently, then Laura Trieste was a tiger. However, he thought with a bit of random pride, Relena was most definitely a lioness ? queen of the jungle, as they said.
?If that?s the case,? Relena replied easily and with forced cheerfulness, ?then I would gladly hand over the press to you, Representative.?
Laura?s eyebrows rose as though Relena could really do that. ?Would you??
?If you?ll excuse us,? Heero jumped in as the orchestra currently onstage struck up a new tune, ?President Darlian and I are going to dance.?
Relena?s head snapped toward him, and her eyes shone like ice. Heero only gave a patient, if not a little wicked, smile.
It had Relena?s blood racing. The only good thing was that it would help her escape Trieste.
?Have a pleasant evening, Representative,? the president told her, and was whisked immediately away. The two left Laura feeling rejected.
****************************************************
REVIEW PLEASE.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Gundam Wing.
~ Ice Hot ~ Chapter Six
By Gundam Girl
~ Diminishing Defenses ~
Relena was pleased that she didn?t so much as hear Heero Yuy?s name for a whole seven days. It would have only annoyed, and worse, upset her. And she had no time to be upset. Between the situation with the Colonies and the steady flow of threats from some unknown terrorists that had yet to act, Relena was swamped with work. The only problem with not being in contact with Yuy was that there was a delay on details she needed to get actual repairs started. The sooner the contractors went to work, the sooner she could hand the matter over to Quatre and let him deal with it.
She returned from a meeting with the ambassadors from the former Africa and retreated to her home office, ready for a ?relaxing? night of rock music used to keep her awake and paperwork. The meeting had gone well at least. Perhaps tonight she?d be able to take a quick shower and slip into a hot, rose-scented bath. She had the freaking Jacuzzi she hadn?t used in three years. Relena opened her e-mail.
Or not. There were two messages from Heero Yuy, both with sizeable attachments.
The first one she brought up was a list Quatre had given him and a report of poor plumbing. He also stated that he had contacted the desired companies already and discussed matters concerning salary, which mean she wouldn?t have to, this relieving a generous bit of business. In the past, she might have appreciated the gesture. Tonight, she only rolled her eyes.
She nearly did an impression of him and snorted at the signature of Heero Yuy, L1 Representative at the bottom of the message. She opened the second e-mail.
She was shocked by the burst of color from the scanned invitation he?d sent her.
?Dear Madam President Relena Darlian,? she read off with a bit of surprise, even to her own ears, ?you are hereby invited to a dinner party for the Colonial leaders presented by Laura Trieste, Representative of the L2 Colony sector at Duet on Third Avenue in Colony L2-0011??
She knew of Laura Trieste, naturally. She was a blatant woman who enjoyed extravagance and saw the romantic side to life rather than the mechanical side. She was, in some choice words, Relena?s polar opposite. She knew, also, of Duet. It was a restaurant no older than three years, very mature, very expensive, and very suggestive. Oh, there was nothing indecent about the place at all, so she?d heard. But Duo and Hilde had gone there for their second marriage anniversary the year it opened, and Hilde had written her and described the sensual atmosphere of the place. That had been when she and Hilde had stayed in touch.
And Heero Yuy was inviting her there to eat and, dear God, to dance. She was sure of it. Relena found the ?When? line on the card and blanched. It was tomorrow evening.
Could she just say no? Surely she could. Couldn?t she? She?d turned down dozens of men in the past six years, aristocrats and politicians among them. Heero Yuy was a politician now?
But, she thought was a bit of alarm, he was also Heero Yuy. Her protector.
Former protector, she reminded herself stoically. His feats had been done long ago.
She scrolled down to the end of the message with intent to scoff at his title again, but she only read a simple two lines:
Come, Relena.
Heero.
Her heart banged against her chest like a gavel, deciding her fate. He had put it so simply.
And she could still remember the things he?d done for her. Wing Gundam?s shield over her body, defending her from the collapsing building; Heero covering her body with his own, rescuing her from falling debris and taking a cut himself?
His body, even at fifteen, had set her temperature to warm. And the touch of his hand last week?
Relena wrapped her arms around her waist and shivered. God, why was he affecting her this way? It had been six years, their ?intimacy? was over and done with, she had gotten over it, over him?
Right? Remembering the way he?d kissed her, even without experience, left her horrifically aroused.
She promptly shut down the computer and stood up, heading for her bathroom, stripping from her suit jacket as she went.
She really needed that hot bath.
Relena sighed once she was inside the tiled room and the door was locked. Turning on the fan, she quickly divested herself of all material, tossing her clothes in a hamper by the wide shower stall.
She let the faucet in the Jacuzzi run and added bath salts before she hopped into the stall.
As she turned on the steaming stream and let it wet her hair, she wondered. Lathering shampoo into her hair, she wondered if not going to the Colonial dinner could negatively influence her career in any way. She didn?t really think so. There was business on Earth that might pop up if she wanted it to, and she could decline the offer for the party. However, if she did go, it would make the Colony representatives happy. She could talk to Quatre, find out why in God?s name he had asked Fogner to let Yuy take over L1.
And, she reasoned, since she would be with him, she could convince herself that once and for all, she no longer was attached to Heero Yuy in any way. They could even make a business meeting out of it. She could find out exactly how many apartments were as faulty as his.
Relena quickly rinsed her hair of the conditioner she?d added to the shampoo and hurriedly turned off the faucet in the Jacuzzi. Dipping into it, she let her head rest against the rubber pillow suctioned to the tub. The massaging jets combined with the luring scent of roses did little to keep her in the mind frame that she could easily reject Zero?s former pilot.
Absently, she wondered if Yuy would feel at all seduced if he smelled roses on her.
She doubted it, and the near-romantic mood she?d been in dissipated completely. Relena forced herself to focus on the tension that was slowly being eased from her back thanks to those jets.
Stepping from the tub twenty minutes later, she toweled herself dry with soft cotton and wrapped herself in an ankle-length satin robe from the former China?s council leader. Her damp hair fell into water-darkened gold ringlets around her shoulders.
When she walked out of the steamy bathroom on a quest for a nightgown or pajamas, she was surprised when she saw Trowa sitting on her couch.
Trowa only saw her reflexively cover her breasts, which the satin clung to. She was quite indecent, and he didn?t particularly care. Well, he did care. She was a gorgeous woman in a few yards of satin. And she was wet.
He crossed his legs to hide an obnoxious, untimely hard-on.
?What are you doing in here?? she asked. Was he checking in before the shift change? It couldn?t be eleven yet, Relena was certain it was only around nine. ?Trowa??
She was so cold, Trowa almost thought he saw steam from the traces of hot water rising from her. ?Yuy called.?
?Yuy ? he what?? she asked, still concerned with her decency or lack thereof.
Trowa repeated, ?Yuy called. My cell, in fact. I suppose he thought you weren?t at home.?
He had a talent for frazzling her even indirectly. Damn him! ?I see,? Relena replied. ?And? What did he say??
Trowa waited a moment, or so Relena thought, for her to gain her bearing. In reality, he was hesitating. ?He says he?ll see you tomorrow night.?
Relena grew furious almost instantly. He was playing a game of wills, was he? Jesus Christ, if the challenge were to see who was stronger in the emotions, she would win hands down. He had no idea what she?d been through.
Leaving was a strong card to play, she decided. But she got the feeling that showing up and staying at it would be even stronger.
With a bit of determination, Relena raised her nose and nodded curtly. ?Would you relay a message to him for me??
?What will you have me say, Madam President?? he asked loyally.
?Just one thing.? So pleased with her advantage in the annoying war, Relena almost smiled.
Almost.
?He can bet he?ll see me tomorrow night.?
***
Laura Alyssa LeDuc Peterson Trieste, a one-time widow on her third marriage, was very fond of the elegant. She had always believed space to be elegant, picturesque, even. All those stars were absolutely breathtaking; much more so than in the former France where she?d been born and had married for the fist time. By the time she had married ancient Roger Peterson, she?d been nominated for representative. And she?d found a love for the Colonies, especially at night when the streets sang ballads and entranced lovers.
Duet offered it all; elegant d?cor, a view of space in its glory, and soft music. It was the perfect location for her dinner. She was especially fond of the certain libido-summoning air of the place. Her current spouse, Raphael Trieste, was seventy-eight years old ? ages more than her forty. Laura sighed. If the shriveled old prick didn?t have so much money, she?d have never given him a first glance. As it was, he was the reason she wore the classy diamond-and-emerald necklace that dipped between her nearly too-exposed, fake cleavage.
Hopefully, the fool would die off soon, she thought as she gazed around at the invited guests milling about with champagne and cheerful tittering. She was running out of excuses for not getting into bed with him.
She stopped sighing immediately when two handsome, familiar men walked into the restaurant, one of them with a saucy redhead in black taffeta on his arm. She recognized them instantly, of course. Quatre Winner was no other than the leader of the Colonies. The woman was Rosanna Palatolia, a rising designer and engineer from L6 something or other. The lean, dark one was Heero Yuy, new and, as the rumor said, temporary L1 representative. He had no date with him, though for the life of her, Laura couldn?t imagine why. He was the most attractive man she?d seen in a while, and the way he smiled a little as he spoke to Winner was irresistibly alluring.
Laura had a sudden, delicious picture of her full signature ending with a ?Yuy.? With a grin, she made her way over to the two ex-Gundam pilots.
?Representative Winner, Miss Palatolia!? she exclaimed grandly. Quatre looked up and grinned at her.
?Representative Trieste,? he said charmingly, taking her hand and kissing the gloved back of it. He straightened and gazed around the room. ?I must say, this is quite the glorious setup you?ve prepared for us.?
?Thank you, sir. I do hope you and your beautiful date have fun tonight.?
Rosanna gave her a bright smile, one that had probably fallen many boys in high school. ?I expect we will. Will you be terribly busy tonight??
?I?ll make the rounds, of course,? Laura told her comfortably. ?But I should be able to relax with you all soon.?
?Good,? Quatre said. ?Do enjoy yourself, will you?? Quatre worked to keep his smile in place. He shot a glance to Heero. Laura would enjoy herself, all right. And everyone else. He led Rosanna away.
?Representative Yuy,? Laura continued, turning to Heero and giving him her most provocative expression. With practice, she had perfected it; head tilted in, amused eyes looking up beneath lashes, and lips just barely spread. ?I dare tell you that when I heard a Heero Yuy was representing L1, I thought we had a historical ghost among us.? She laughed lightly. ?But I?m sure you get that a lot.?
?Dozens of times,? Heero lied. Right off the bat, from her the tone of her voice ? and the few-hundred-dollar bosoms she unattractively flaunted ? he was certain he did not like L2 Representative Laura Trieste. But he was fairly sure she liked him. Looking to follow behavior code, he kissed her hand as Quatre had done.
?Are you here tonight alone?? Laura asked, hoping desperately he was.
Heero allowed himself a genuine grin; thinking of Relena?s challenging message she?d relayed through a very pissed-off Trowa amused him every minute of the day. ?For the moment. Due to colliding schedules, my date and I made arrangements to meet here.?
?I see. And who is this woman??
?Ah.? The edges of Heero?s eyes crinkled as he shoved away laughter. ?That will be a surprise, Representative.?
?Laura,? she insisted and batted her lashes flirtatiously. ?And Heero, yes??
Heero?s smile faltered, but not noticeably. What could it hurt? ?Why not?? he said, forcing his tone to sound jovial.
?How about some champagne while you wait??
But the champagne or the waiting wasn?t necessary. She held a power over all that she led. Though announcements weren?t being made at this function, heads turned when Relena entered the room.
Laura gasped. Heero felt a little anxious himself. Before his too-kind hostess could utter a sound, he quickly left her side to walk up the staircase to the restaurant?s main entrance just as the Maitre d` was taking the hooded black cloak from her shoulders.
He made it halfway up to her before he had to freeze to stare.
The cloak had done its job and had kept everything hidden until the last moment. She stood straight and tall, shoulders back, and was the very image of royalty and high society in soft silk of blue. It was darker than the sky color she?d worn to L1. Now it was more mature. Like sapphires, or like?his own eyes. The style of the dress complimented her every curve, from the way it clung tightly to the slopes of her shoulders at the top and around her breasts to how it billowed just slightly at her waist. There was a smatter of light-colored sparkles all over the material, as though it had been sprayed on. She wore sparkles on her bare shoulders and neck, which didn?t bear jewelry as Laura?s necklace. She wore a choker with a round medium sapphire, and it accentuated the slimness of her throat. Her hair? Jesus, her hair. It was more wavy than curly, but some groups of strands twirled into ringlets. Because it had been more tightly curled or partly up when he?d seen her, Heero hadn?t noticed how long it had gotten. It flowed halfway down her back.
He suddenly wished he could put his fingers in it.
And then he noticed that, as though she had cast a strange spell over them all, the room had gone quiet. And that Relena was staring at him with her crystal-like eyes.
?Representative Yuy,? she murmured in greeting. The sounds of merrymaking resumed. Because it was customary at this type of event, Relena held out her hand, palm down.
Heero grasped her ringless fingers, but only held them and her gaze for a moment. ?I?m glad you made it,? he told her lightly before lowering his head to brush his lips against her bare hand. He held back the reaction to the shock that spread through him. ?Madam President.? Before she could make any sharp reply, he tucked her arm through his and led her the rest of the way down the stairs before one of them tripped. And he would likely be the one to.
?Madam President!? came Laura?s voice. She appeared before them, looking very much bewildered. ?I had no idea you would be attending. When Mr. Yuy said his date was to be a surprise, I never suspected it would be our lady president!?
Part of Relena wanted to pinch the hand that covered hers in Heero?s arm. ?It?s a pleasure for me to be here,? she said with well-formed politeness. Running on automatic, she added, ?It?s really quite nice of you to give this party.?
Laura regarded the higher politician with a bit of venom in her tone. ?Is it? I just deemed it necessary for the Colony representatives to be shown some great appreciation. Paparazzi usually want to see Earth office-holders, you know.?
If women were wolves, Heero thought absently, then Laura Trieste was a tiger. However, he thought with a bit of random pride, Relena was most definitely a lioness ? queen of the jungle, as they said.
?If that?s the case,? Relena replied easily and with forced cheerfulness, ?then I would gladly hand over the press to you, Representative.?
Laura?s eyebrows rose as though Relena could really do that. ?Would you??
?If you?ll excuse us,? Heero jumped in as the orchestra currently onstage struck up a new tune, ?President Darlian and I are going to dance.?
Relena?s head snapped toward him, and her eyes shone like ice. Heero only gave a patient, if not a little wicked, smile.
It had Relena?s blood racing. The only good thing was that it would help her escape Trieste.
?Have a pleasant evening, Representative,? the president told her, and was whisked immediately away. The two left Laura feeling rejected.
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REVIEW PLEASE.
simply hilarious....please write more!!!! you rock ! 